About Surprise

History

Built by the Waddell shipyard in Rockport, Massachusetts for Martin Kattenhorn. Surprise began her life as a racing and cruising yacht. Mr. Kattenhorn had commissioned Thomas McManus, the most famous American designer of fishing schooners, to design a vessel of about 45 feet, which could be safely sailed by a crew of no more than three persons. In early 1918, Surprise slid down the marine railway. read more history…

FAQs

Where do we go on the sail?

Depending on the wind we may head towards Islesboro Island or down the coast to Rockland. We may cruise along the coast of Camden and Rockport checking out the summer estates along the water. We will look for seals basking in the sun, bald eagles, or if we are lucky a whale or porpoise. read more FAQs